TOPSPURS - Jim Duggan's Spurs Site

Jim Duggan's TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR site

Player histories from Jim Duggan season ticket holder, White Hart Lane resident and supporter since the early 70's.

Willem KORSTEN

Forward

Birthplace

Boxtel, Holland

Birthday

21-Jan-75

League

FA Cup

League Cup

European

TOTAL

1999/2000

2000/2001

Height: 191 cms

2000/2001

Weight: 82 kgs

Tottenham Career

Nickname: KRAPSTEN

Tottenham Debut

22nd Jan 2000 - Sheffield Wednesday (h) - Spurs lost 1-0

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(Oct 01) Korsten: Willem Korsten has been forced to retire at the unfortunately young age of 26, after scoring 3 goals in 27 first team matches for us. Korsten arrived in the summer of 1999 for a fee of £1.5m as Graham’s replacement for Ginola after scoring twice in seven appearances on loan from Vitesse Arnhem at Leeds. Unfortunately, like the previous player we nicked from under Leeds noses, John Scales, Willem spent much of his time injured and failed to convince when given the opportunity in the first team.After some impressive pre-season matches, Korsten picked up an injury before the start of the season and did not get back into first team contention for 6 months – making his debut in a dreadful 1-0 defeat against Sheffield Weds in Jan 2000. Willem went on to make a further 8 appearances that season but did not impress, suffering from a loss of confidence and not being played in his preferred position.Korsten’s form and morale never recovered while the Goonersaurus was manager, and while he demonstrated a powerful shot, his overall contributions (admittedly often out of position were very weak)

For many of the fans, Korsten’s career was a bit of a joke, and another stick to beat Graham with as he had purchased him to replace Ginola, who was player of the year at the time of the transfer.Injuries soon after Hoddle's arrival meant that Korsten got a decent run in the first team, and he showed his first real signs of ability in the brilliant second half comeback against Sunderland which saw Spurs comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2. His first Spurs goal away at Anfield soon followed (when I know for a fact I was the first Spurs fan ever to start a Willem Korsten chant [super willem Korsten]), but a mad sending off against Chelsea in between seemed to sum up his luck in our colours. He returned from suspension to have his finest moment in our colours when scoring the first and third goals in a 3-1 win over Man United.Even with his improved form, I was sceptical about whether he would ever scale the heights for us, but thought that he had shown good character to come through a difficult period and at last showed something like his best form.

No one knew where Korsten was over the pre-season as the rest of the squad assembled and only in August was it revealed that he would be out for at least 4 months.The news of Korsten’s early retirement will sadden football fans everywhere, and I would like to take the opportunity to wish Willem all the best in whatever he turns his hand to next (many players forced to retire early, seem to do well as Managers).

(Aug 01) Missing, apparantly with a Hip injury to the end of the year

(July 01 - Season 2001/02 Expectations) Not spotted since his two goal salvo sunk Man U on the last day of the season. As much as I am pleased for Willem to finally come good, I suspect that his future lies elsewhere as he has never given me the impression that he is good enough for a Tottenham team going places. Whatever happens, I'm sure what he has already achieved will ensure him cult status for many years to come

(May 01) Continued improvement and a couple of great goals in the last game of the season has given Willem's Spurs career a chance after nearly two years of injury, lack of confidence and utter rubbish. Hoddle has correctly suggested that he needs to get in the game more, but at least there are signs of ability. In all honesty, I don't think he will be good enough to be more than a squad man in the new Tottenham revolution, but at least he has achieved something at the Lane and all credit for Willem for plugging on when things looked bleak.

(May 01) A scored a good goal at Anfield but is one of the lease able players I can remember in a forward position for Tottenham. Hoddle has said "that there is a footballer waiting to come out", although I'm afraid the footballer is more akin to Jason Dozzell than Jurgen Klinsmann. He needs to be offloaded in the summer while a few people have deceived themselves into thinking he is something other than totally useless

(Apr 01) First signs of ability in the second half at Sunderland, but needs to do more and more often to be worthy of a place in the new Tottenham - but it’s a start, a long time after being signed in Summer 1999.

(Apr 01) A complete waste of space - a bad player who combines a lack of talent with a lack of effort - it’s a scandal that this man was ever signed for the mighty Tottenham. - Who signed him? Well that explains that then.

(Feb 01) Wants to move - and that suits me and everyone else at Tottenham

(Jan 01) Nothing short of pathetic - should be released on a free - Graham's Ginola replacement

(Dec 00) It pains me to watch Ginola for Villa - it not Korsten's fault that he's no good, but it annoys me that the Goon sold Ginola and wasted £1.5m on this clown

(Nov 00)Scores lots for the reserves, but looks lost at first team level

(Sept 00)Purchased to be Ginola's replacement by Graham, Korsten has looked little better than inept in his few out of position outings interspersed between long periods of injury. Currently injured again, Korsten needs to get fit and play a few good games before he is reduced to a comedy figure.